Healthy Homes Assessment Plimmerton

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure their Plimmerton rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties are required to be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

• Draught Stopping
• Heating
• Insulation
• Ventilation
• Moisture Ingress & Drainage

We will assess the rental property you have in order to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work needed to be completed. requirements to be completed and provide the report with all the necessary information to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes connected fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties, and are fully certified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Plimmerton rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be completed within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new or renewed contract is signed on the Plimmerton rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the required information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as the one who is who is letting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it should be kept updated through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It’s also important to note that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for serious breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket resulting in huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and arrange to have an home assessment performed on your rental property.

Check out the complete details of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

A majority of households rent from New Zealand and Plimmerton, and research suggests that rental homes tend to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who reported at least four key housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Improving the standard of Plimmerton rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and daily life due to illness. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught Control for Plimmerton rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss the Plimmerton Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Plimmerton

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within houses. A cold house is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or the air is clear from a crack or a gap or crack, then it’s likely a crack or hole which needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air in or out within your house require the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that such draughts are squelched whenever possible.

There is no need to cover up holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement within the building when the household heats and cools, to allow them to be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will test every window and door in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are important for healthy homes

Heating Plimmerton

Plimmerton rental properties need to have a stable source of heat which can warm the living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The heating source requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if your current fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top-up" with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating or heat pump, it should include a thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If your main living space already has a central heating source, like an air conditioner, it may need a top up to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality because they’re not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

See the full details regarding details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Plimmerton

Each liveable space in a rental home must have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can take moisture away.

A ventilation standard is all about acknowledging how dry air will be less difficult to heat and heat, and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not liveable and don’t require an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or skylight needs to be able open to the outside, but remain at an open angle to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your home that has shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture-producing item will need proper extractor fan systems that can be vented to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Plimmerton

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is mandatory for all rent homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure that the insulation is up to current standard. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, and will also make it easier to allow the household to hold the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the higher the quality of insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest area of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Plimmerton Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface as well as groundwater to move and to prevent it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s often those things that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue, causing the property to suffer and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must be equipped with efficient drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water is able to go, and it can’t linger underneath the structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between your floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from entering the property. It also helps prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Plimmerton

The areas of rental property that are affected by Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Plimmerton include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Plimmerton for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things you should look for in the home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the Tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental properties house assessment.